Chilling apparatus



Feb. 16 1926. 1,573,450

c. H. MCL. RAYsoN CHILLING APPARATUS Filed August 1o, 1925 3 sheets-sheet 1 n. un...

` Feb. 16 1926.

. 1,573,450 C. H. MCL. RAYSON CHILLING APPARATUS Filed August 10'I 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIII 59 55 56 ZZ. I I f CLI,

, f. d, /1 HM' @yay/7 Feb. 16 1926. y 1,573,450

C. H. MCI.. RAYSON CHILLING APPARATUS Filed August l0, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet ."5

Patemedreb. ie, 192e.

UNITE@ STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HAROLD IJICLEAY BIAYSON, OF ST. KLDA, NEAR MELBOURNE, VICTORIA. AUSTRALIA.

CHLLNG APPARATUS.

Application filed August 10, 1925. Serial No. 49,429.

To allie/710m t may concern:

Be itknown that CrriinLns HAROLD Mc- LEAY ltarsoN, citizen of the Commonwealth of Australia, residing at Surrey,7 Maryville Street, St. Kilda, near Mclbourne, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, has invented certain new and useful Improved Chilling Apparatus (for which l have tiled application in Australia, July 28, 1924, No. 18,850), of

`which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for the storage and carriage of beef, mutton and other food products ashore and afloat ina chilled but unfrozen conditien at special temperatures an'd regulated pressures controlled by special apparatus and appliances.

An essential feature embodied in the iuvention consists in the arrangement and control of the airflow and in the testing devices employed.

A further essential feature consists in the use of valve plates over the inlet duct-s, said plates having spiral webs on the side facing the duct-s to impart a rotary'swirl tothe air as it enters the cooling chamber.

A further essential feature embodied in the invention consists in fitting all the air duets with adjustable controlling discs or valves so as to ensure the even distribution and circulation of the air over the carcass.

Further essential features are disclosed in the following description of the apparatus.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which 2- Figure 1 is a view in vertical central section illustrating the arrangement of the air control valves and the testing mechanism employed.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the storeroom illustrating the floor and the air inlets as wellas the air flow or delivery from the fan to the storeroom.

Fig. 2a is a schematic elevation of a cold battery.

Figure 3 is a part vertical central section taken at right angles to Fig. 1 illustrating the air inlet under pressure from the fan to the floor of the storeroom and the suction outlet from the ducts at the top y of the storeroom back to the fan.

Figures 4 and 5 are side elevations at right angles to each other, and Fig. 6 is a plan view, of the air inlet valves at the bottom of the storeroom.

Figures 7 and 7a are side elevation and plan views, respectively, of an alternative construction of air inlet valve.

Figure 8 is a vertical section, to an enlarged scale, of the air outlet valve on the suction or top side of the storerooni.

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view, parts being in elevation, of the testing devices employed.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of a Inedified air inlet means.

Figure 11 is a view in side elevation of an alternative construction of meat hanging device, and

Figure 12 is an end view thereof.

According to this invention a storerooui 1 is provided having air chiots 2 at the bottom or floor and air ducts 3 at the top or ceiling thereof, while a pipe l leads from a fan 5 suitably disposed in or adjacent the storeroom in a chamber 6, the pipes 7 from the suction or outlet ducts returning to the fan chamber 6 to allow of the recirculation of the air.

The fan 5 is driven in any suitable way and is so disposed that it forces the air under pressure through the inlet ducts 2 of the storeroom and sucks the air back to its chamber 6 for recirculation from the upper or outlet ducts 3 for recirculation.

The air is forced through a cold battery 4b interposed in the gap 4. of the pipe et (see Fig. 2a).

The air is forced into the chamber past inlet valves 8 where it circulates therein and isdrawn out past the valves 9 and through the ducts 8 back to the fan casing 6.

Preferably the lower inlet valves 8 are disposed in line with the outlet valves 9 and these valves 8 `and 9 will now be particular ly described.

The lower ducts 2 are covered by the flooring 1() which is provided with a plurality of circular orifices or holes 11 and these orifices are arranged in a plurality of rows across the flooring 10 of the storeroom.

Similarly the ceiling 1 2 is formed with a plurality of rows of circular orifices or air holes 13 preferably in line with the holes 11 formed in the flooring 10.

he lower valves 8 consist of a disc of larger ,diameter than .the orifices 1 1 and rest ino y lll) upon a flange l-l of a biish 15, the flange 14; being screwed to the floor 10. This bush 15 is open on two sides having dependingstraps 16 with a cross piece 17 at the lower end. From the valve disc 8 depends astein 18 centrally disposed and entering a hole in the lower cross piece 17, providing a suitable guide to maintain the valve disc 8in hori- Zontal alignment on adjustment towards and away from the flange le of the bush 1,5. T he adjustment is accomplished either by screwing the stein 18 into the cioss piece 17 or preferably by forming steps 19 on the portion 2O of the bush 15 which are engaged by ay pin 21 on the stem 18, and consequently a greater or lesser opening is given between the orifice 11 and the valve 8 thus controlling the air flow, and by such control an even distribution is made over the carcasses. y

In the alternative construction of the lower valve illustrated in Figure 7, the underside of the valve disc 8 may be kformed with spiral webs or vanes 22 by means of which a rotary-or spiral motion is given to the air as it is delivered past the valves 8 into 'the storerooin 1.

The webs 22 of each valve are adapted to enter the respective holes 11 in the floorlO, and also form guiding members for the valves.

r)The upper valves 9 are of disc forni andV are larger in diameter than the holes 13 in theceiling 12 leading,` to the suction ducts 3. Each valve 9 is loosely disposed on a stem 23 Vand rests on a boss 2e of theY eye member 23a for receiving the hook on which the carcass is suspended.v rlhis valve disc 9 isiitted with pins 25 entering holes in the flange 26 of the bush 27, the flange being fastened to the ceiling` 12 while the bush enters the hole 13 in said ceiling.

To adjust the valves 9 towards or away from the suction holes 13 of the outlet ducts 3 the end of the stem 23 is threaded into the cross piece 28 of the bush 27 and to maintain the valves in perfect alignment the pins 25 enter holes in the flange 26 of the bush 27 and in the ceiling, 12. i

1n order to assist flow of the air to the `ducts 2 and 3 defiecting plates 29, 29 may be disposed opposite the mouth of the pipe 4.

An auxiliary fan 30'rnay be disposed in one of the ducts 2 as illustrated in Fig v2, which would serve to piel-1 up the air and give force for it to pass beyond the point where it would naturally be spent and also to allow of a smaller duct to be used thus giving greater cargo space.

Special means are embodied in this invention and form essential features thereof coinprising testing devices which dispense with the necessity of entering the chamber while the chilling,l is being effected and these means consist of a .chamber 31 having a thermome- ,l l1 betweeiji flared mouths 3 2, 33 respectively of the pipes 3l, 35 of inlet ducts 2 and the suction ducts 3.

A pipe 36 leads from the pipe 34e and evternally ofthe chamber 31 is fitted with a control valve 37 while on both sides of the branch pipe 36 valves 38, 39 are so disposed that when the valve 37 is closed and the valves 38 and 39 are open the air feeds through the pipe 34 to the mouth 32 to the thermometer and the ten'ipei'ature is thus taken of the air in the ducts 2 or the bottoni of the storeroom.

An air meter 31a is disposed adjacent the mouth 32 of the pipe 34 to indicate the air velocity and to indicate that the fan is functioning' correctly.

lf the valve 38 be opened the valve 39 closed and the valve 37 opened the air can blow off to atmosphere through the pipes 3st,

36 should itbe desirable to vary or change the air by 'addingv a quantity of fresh air in the circulation and also to allow of a sample of the air to be taken to ascertain the humidity and whether mould or putrii'ication is present.

The valves 37 38, 39 and all operated ez:- ternally of the chamber 31.

A pipe leads from the ceiling" 12 or the suction ducts 3 to the clian'iber 31 and terminates in a flared mouth 33 adjacent the ther- Thus on closing the left hand 'valve -zlO and opening the valve d3 fresh air can be drawn into the fan circulation required, an air filter being disposed to clear the a'; before it enters the suction inlet pipe Ll2.

The control means therefore serves `many useful purposes while the chilling is being` carried out as theteinj'ierature is registered, any increase or decreasein the amount of air in circulation is shown, the ainoiint of new air admitted is regulated, and the amount of air discharged is also regulated. n the modification illustrated in Figure 10 the air ducts 2 consist of pipes el having T pieces 46 connecting elbows f7 above the floor line, a length of piping 48 passing' from the elbow Ll-7 to lan elbow member-19 fitted with a valve 50, the stein 5l of which passes through the elbow a9 which is tapped to receive the threaded end of the stem 5l for adjusting the valve 5() to or freni the flange 52 formed on the upper end of the elbow 49, se regulating` the air flo-w.

There the elbow 47 connects to the T piece d6 by screw 47a latitude is given therell (l invention.

tlf)

bers may swing and thus the air flow can be delivered to various positions as desired.

The piping 48 may be telescopic as illustrated to obtain a greater range of throw, the partslbcing held by a screw 48a while the elbow 47 is also held in adjusted position by the screw 47a. n

In the alternative construction of' suspending the carcass shown in Figure 11 a meat rail 53 is connected to the eyes 23 of the upper valve sets 9, la distance washer 5st being positioned between the eyes 2B@ and meat rail4 53 to permit of hook members 55 being moved thereon.

The hook members 55 are retained in their positions on the meat rail 58 by forming holes 56 therein which are adapted at predetermined intervals to register with holes 57 in the meat rail 53, .pins 58 supported by a lexible connection 59 being provided to secure the hook members 55 in position on the meat rail 53 by passing said pins 58 `througli the holes 56 and 57 in the hook members 55 and meat rail 53 respectively.

In large plants, rails and McCabe rollers may be employed to deliver the meat to the storeroom 1 and the carcasses may then be transferred by their hooks to the eyes 23 from the rails, and by this arrangement of hooking on to the eyes 23?" an axial motion is given the stem on its thread which allows the hook to roll or pitch with the ship `while the car asses are maintained and sepadescribed, if found necessary.

A process and apparatus as above delscribed will be of great utility for the reason that mould is eliminated and carriage ot' meat and other products over a long sea voyagecan be accomplished and I desire it to be understood that various improvements and moditicaticns may be embodied without departing from the spirit and scope oi' the What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A chilling apparatus, comprising, a closed chamber, means for supporting products in the chamber, air ducts inside the chamber at the top and the bottom thereof, a propeller, air pipes connecting the suction side of the propeller to the top air ducts and the compression side of the propeller to the bottom air ducts, a test box, test pipes leading from the top and the bottom air ducts and having spaced adjacent ends positioned in the box, a thermometer projecting 'from the box and extending between the test pipe ends, an air meter in the box between the pipe ends, a branch pipe from each test pipe connecting the end ot each test pipe to atmosphere, and valve means controllable from outside the test box to control passage through the branch pipes and the test pipes.

2. A chilling apparatus, comprising, a closed chamber, means for supporting products in the chamber, air ducts inside the chamber at the top and the bottom thereot, a propeller, air pipes connecting the suction side ot the propeller to the top air ducts and the compression side of the propeller to the bottom air ducts, a textbox, pipes connecting the box with the air ducts and means in the box to determine the tem perature ot air flowing through the ducts and valve-d pipes to admit air to, and discharge air from, the box, and to regulate the quantity of such air.

In a chilling apparatus, a chamber, a false ceiling in the chamber, apertures in the false ceiling, a valve controlling each apen ture, each valve comprising a stem, a boss on the stem, a valve disk loose on the stem and supported on the boss, an eye on the stem below the valve disk, a bush passing into the aperture, a screw thread on the inner end ot thc stem threaded into the bush, a tiange on the bush surrounding the oritice and fixed to the .talsc ceiling, matching holes in the flange and ceiling, pins projecting troni the valve disk and slidable in the matching holes `for .nuiintainiug the valve in proper alignment upon screwing the stem into the bush.

et. In a chilling apjmratus, a chamber, a false ceiling in the chamber, apertures in the false ceiling, a valve controlling each aperture, each valve comprising a stem, a boss on the stem, a valve disk loose on the stem and supported on the boss, an eye on the stem below the valve disk, a bush passing into the aperture, a screw thread on the inner end ot the stem threaded into thc bush, a flange on the bush surrounding the orilice and lixcd to the false ceiling. matching holes in the flange and ceiling, pins project ing from the Yalve disk and slidablc in the matching holes for maintaining the valve in proper alignment upon screwing the stem into the bush, product supporting means detachably and swingably connectable to the eyes.

5. In a chilling apparatus, a chamber, a false bottom in the chamber, pipe con-duits below the false bottom, a plurality ot members connecting the conduits with the interior ol. the chamber .each member includlll() ing, e T connected in the conduit and eX- tending above the tolse bottoni, on elbow, an adjustable disk valve in the elbow, an elbow swivelled to the T, and e pipe teleseopieally interconnecting the two elbows, whereby the position ot the valve relative to the conduit can be adjusted.

6. ln o chilling;` `fippzirzxtus, o chamber, n 'False bottoni in the Chain-ber, a. pipe conduit below the false bottoni, pipe-s connecting` the conduits with the Chamber above the false bottom, o valve Controlling flow through each of the pipes, and a swivel joint between each pipe sind the pipe conduit.

7. ln a chilling apparatus, o chamber, suction Valves in the ceiling' ot the eheinbern depending eyes on the valves, ameat rail spaced from, and fasteneclvto, the Valve eyes,-

1re-.ils tor lixing'tie hooks in position on the rail.

In testimony whereof ,l have signed n'iy naine to this specification,

CHARLES HAROLD MCKLEAY RAYSN. 

